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posted by Esther on 04/28/08

Thank you all who have joined us on the Psalm 100 challenge! Our total so far is 30.

Psalm 100:4 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His name."

I would like to express my thankfulness to God for the safe and enjoyable time we had with the Altizer boys. I was very impressed with how well they did memorizing this chapter. Their diligence paid off and when we took them back to their parents on Friday they were able to quote the chapter for them with excellence.  What could give more guidance than keeping God’s Word in our hearts? "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

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posted by Esther on 04/24/08

This verse has been the most challenging for us so far. But it marks the halfway point! Keep up the good work!

Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the Lord He is God. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."

We would appreciate any ideas to improve the pictures on any of these visuals. 

Everyday is exciting around here! When you wake up you never know what to expect. It could be a trip to the park, Grandma’s house, a picnic, or a new game, toy, or story book pulled off the shelf. Or maybe it will be the spring version of a snowball fight – Dandelions! We certainly have enough around here! As you can see the Altizer boys are enjoying their stay… and so are we!

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posted by Donald on 04/23/08

More than a report on things here, I think right now a collection of prayer requests from different places would be most thought- and action-provoking for us all.

In Israel, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is being celebrated
Pray for the Christians there to be a bright light and for the unsaved to come to the knowledge of the Truth
Pray during this week that as they seek to please the Lord, even their enemies would be at peace with them

In Romania, Character First! Education continues to find a hungry audience
Pray that the Copu family would be strengthened with all might after the inner man
Pray that character standards would challenge students to think in absolutes

In Mongolia, the Basic Seminar is once again being shown
Pray for it to ignite love for the Word of God

2 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Esther on 04/23/08

Welcome back! During their visit, the Altizer boys have been engrafting this chapter of scripture with us! Everyone is invited to memorize or review this passage with us. Just let us know in a comment.

Here is the visual for the second verse. Psalm 100:2 "Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing."

How is this passage going for you? We had a chance to apply this verse on Sunday afternoon by learning a few songs together to sing at a local nursing home. This act of serving others was one way we could serve the Lord because His Word says in Mat. 25:40 "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Let us know how this verse is helpful for you in the upcoming days.

Friday we celebrated Daniel’s 17th birthday and what an enthusiastic celebration it was. Both sets of Grandparents, Great Aunt Lil and Uncle Alan came for the weinie roast. David, Joshua, Caleb, the twins and I made birthday cards and party hats that morning to help with the festive atmosphere. The twins were very eager to help Daniel open his gifts! The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather and a great time together.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Michael on 04/22/08

"For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." Is. 61:11

This has been a fascinating verse to think about at this  time of year as I see the buds opening and the seeds sprouting up after an unusually good spring. How is God like a garden? Just as in a garden plants receive the water,  nutrients, air, and light that they need to grow and produce, so those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God (Ps. 92:13). Like a thirsty deer, a dry seed is ready to instantly absorb life-giving water, and "so panteth my soul after thee, O God!" Jehovah is also my Light and my salvation (Ps. 97:1). Just as the garden provides nutrition, Jehovah is my saving health and the Living Bread. If you have eaten that bread (Jn. 6:51) and comprehended that light (Jn. 1:5), you know what I mean, for we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen (Jn. 3:11).

I advocate and practice sustainability, responsibility, and conservation, but a plant in the earth is only as secure as earth’s conditions allow. The light of the sun itself will not last forever. Droughts can render the richest soil useless and floods can wash it away. But unlike an earthly garden subject to the degeneracy of nature, a soul that is rooted and grounded in Love is as secure as the eternal God. "Although the fig tree shall not  blossom, neither shall the fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab. 3:17-18) Indeed, you cannot receive Christ without giving up the world (Luke 14:33). What life is there in the Spirit without the flesh (nature) being reckoned dead? (Rom. 6:5-6, 11) We will not be eating of the tree of life in the new heaven and the new earth until the present earth and heaven have passed away (Rev. 21:1 and 22:1-4)

Yes, Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. He has caused righteousness and praise to spring forth in my soul. At first it looked like death, but when out came life, there were no regrets!

3 Comments » | posted in Possessing the Land, Tidbits